notify

[noh-tuh-fahy]

verb (used with object)

notified, notifying 

1. to inform (someone) or give notice to.

   to notify the police of a crime.

   Synonyms: tell, advise, apprise

2. Chiefly British.,  to make known; give information of.

   The sale was notified in the newspapers.

notify

/ ˈnəʊtɪˌfaɪ /

verb

1. to inform; tell

2. to draw attention to; make known; announce

Other Word Forms

• notifier noun
• notifiable adjective
• prenotify verb (used with object)
• renotify verb (used with object)
• unnotified adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of notify¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English notifien, from Middle French notifier, from Latin nōtificāre, from (g)nōt(us), past participle of (g)nōscere “to come to know” ( know ¹ ) + -ificāre -ify

Word History and Origins

Origin of notify¹

C14: from Old French notifier, from Latin notificāre to make known, from nōtus known + facere to make

Example Sentences

Boeing notified the deal to the commission in late August, triggering the EU’s merger screening process.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"Should the investigation confirm this, we will promptly notify those concerned and take appropriate measures in accordance with applicable laws on the protection of personal information."

Read more on BBC

"It's been horrific," says the 28-year-old, who was notified last month that her boxes would be disposed of, leaving her to make frantic phone calls and send emails to try to head off the outcome.

Read more on BBC

"You should have been notified," said the staff member at the desk.

Read more on BBC

"Since the ship's autopilot was engaged at the time, the autopilot compensated for this. No alarm notified the person on the command bridge about what had happened," the prosecution authority said.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• advise 
• alert 
• announce 
• apprise 
• brief 
• caution 
• declare 
• disclose 
• give 
• reveal 
• suggest 
• telephone 
• tell 
• warn